Let’s go back to Pliny the Elder for a moment. Pliny wrote the following in his “Natural History:” (4.27) as follows (from the John Bostock translation):
“We must now leave the Euxine to describe the outer portions of Europe. After passing the Riphæan mountains we have now to follow the shores of the Northern Ocean on the left, until we arrive at Gades. In this direction a great number of islands are said to exist that have no name; among which there is one which lies opposite to Scythia, mentioned under the name of Raunonia, and said to be at a distance of the day’s sail from the mainland; and upon which, according to Timæus, amber is thrown up by the waves in the spring season. As to the remaining parts of these shores, they are only known from reports of doubtful authority. With reference to the Septentrional or Northern Ocean; Hecatæus calls it, after we have passed the mouth of the river Parapanisus, where it washes the Scythian shores, the Amalchian sea, the word ‘Amalchian’ signifying in the language of these races, frozen. Philemon again says that it is called Morimarusa or the “Dead Sea” by the Cimbri, as far as the Promontory of Rubeas, beyond which it has the name of the Cronian Sea. Xenophon of Lampsacus tells us that at a distance of three days’ sail from the shores of Scythia, there is an island of immense size called Baltia, which by Pytheas is called Basilia. Some islands called Oönæ are said to be here, the inhabitants of which live on the eggs of birds and oats; and others again upon which human beings are produced with the feet of horses, thence called Hippopodes. Some other islands are also mentioned as those of the Panotii, the people of which have ears of such extraordinary size as to cover the rest of the body, which is otherwise left naked.”
The source of the confusion
“Leaving these however, we come to the nation of the Ingævones, the first in Germany; at which we begin to have some information upon which more implicit reliance can be placed. In their country is an immense mountain called Sevo, not less than those of the Riphæan range, and which forms an immense gulf along the shore as far as the Promontory of the Cimbri. This gulf, which has the name of the ‘Codanian,’ is filled with islands; the most famous among which is Scandinavia, of a magnitude as yet unascertained: the only portion of it at all known is inhabited by the nation of the Hilleviones, who dwell in 500 villages, and call it a second world: it is generally supposed that the island of Eningia is of not less magnitude. Some writers state that these regions, as far as the river Vistula, are inhabited by the Sarmati, the Venedi, the Sciri, and the Hirri, and that there is a gulf there known by the name of Cylipenus, at the mouth of which is the island of Latris, after which comes another gulf, that of Lagnus, which borders on the Cimbri. The Cimbrian Promontory, running out into the sea for a great distance, forms a peninsula which bears the name of Cartris. Passing this coast, there are three and twenty islands which have been made known by the Roman arms: the most famous of which is Burcana, called by our people Fabaria, from the resemblance borne by a fruit which grows there spontaneously. There are those also called Glæsaria by our soldiers, from their amber; but by the barbarians they are known as Austeravia and Actania.”
A number of things are interesting about this passage. But before we can say anything of relevance let us start by noting what Pliny is talking about. He says that he wants to “follow the Northern Ocean on the left” until he comes to Gades – which most think means the Spanish port of Cadiz. And indeed the first above paragraph appears to take the view of a traveller on the “left” side of the ocean, i.e., where the coast is on the left and the ocean/water on the right as you move forward. For that reason, it may be thought that the Amalchian Sea (Morimarusa) – consistent with Tacitus’ stagnant northern sea – is the northern Baltic. Perhaps the Gulf of Bothnia or of Finland or of Riga or some combination of these. Continuing with this line of thinking we have the Cronian Sea as, perhaps, the Curonian Lagoon. Whether the Amalchian Sea and the island of Baltia have anything to do with the Gothic ruling houses of the Amali and Balti, we leave up to the reader. As also the question of whether the island of Raunonia could somehow refer to the Rani tribe. We will note, however, that, after the above description Pliny deviates into the land of myth where some people have horse hooves and others have huge ears.
But what happens then?
Pliny says that “[l]eaving these however, we come to the nation of the Ingævones, the first in Germany; at which we begin to have some information upon which more implicit reliance can be placed.” This is odd in that the “first” nation in Germany should have been the Istævones – at least if one were coming from the East, i.e., from Scythia. The Ingævones dwelt on the fringes of the Northern Ocean, yes, but probably roughly around Belgium and Holland/Frisia. At least that is where Tacitus places them.
So what is going here?
Of course, we can’t be sure for certain but it appears that Pliny has jumped to the coast of the North Sea – to, perhaps, somewhere near to the coast of Holland – and is now moving eastwards.
Let’s keep reading.
If we leave Mount Sevo (Suevus?) for another time and proceed on we hear about Pliny telling us about the Codanian Gulf – a gulf that is “filled with islands the biggest of which is Scandinavia.” Here the “Co-danian” Gulf could be interpreted to mean, roughly, the Danish Gulf. And indeed the Danish coast is full of islands that today constitute Denmark and it is also the coast closest to Scandinavia.
Here Pliny meanders describing Scandinavia and its Hilleviones before noting that some writers state “that these regions, as far as the river Vistula, are inhabited by the Sarmati, the Venedi, the Sciri, and the Hirri.”
Point 1: If indeed we are moving West to East then the words of regions “as far as the river Vistula” suggest that some form of Sarmati, the Veneti and the Sciri plus Hirri would have lived – likely moving from the southwest towards the northeast – up to the river Vistula. If Vistula is the river we call today the Vistula* then we have the Veneti west of the Vistula.
But what about the report of the Sarmati? Don’t they live in Sarmatia? And don’t we know that Sarmatia is east of the Vistula? Well, Sarmatia may be east of the Vistula but the people of Sarmatia do not become non-Sarmatians should they be found elsewhere (see the complaints of the writers of late antiquity about the invading Sarmatians (e.g., Alans) in Gaul, Italy, Spain, etc). Indeed, the “Sarmatian” Iazyges did not live in Sarmatia but rather south of Pannonia – which also points to us beginning with the Sarmatians in the south and working our way up – past the Veneti – north to the Sciri and Hirri.
Incidentally, the Hirri are not known elsewhere, whereas we find the Sciri in the most ancient times – apparently in the west first and then rather eastwards and then somewhere around Pannonia – one can only say that they were all over the map (e.g., the Verona list from the early 4th century mentions them alongside the following peoples: “… Vandali Sarmatae Sciri Carpi Scythae Gothi Indii (!) …”). Whether the Sciri were also related to the Finnic peoples is another mystery (Scrithifinni? – whether these have anything to do with the Polish word “skryty” as in “hidden” is yet another one).
* Although even if the Vistula were really the Oder, the above supposition could still prove correct (though it certainly would get tight in there!).
Moving on.
Then Pliny describes the “Cimbrian Promontory, running out into the sea for a great distance, [which] forms a peninsula which bears the name of Cartris.” Now, the Cimbrian Promontory is commonly understood to be the Jutland Peninsula – forming the greater part of Denmark. When Pliny then says that “passing” this coast, there are 23 islands known by the Roman arms could he possibly be talking precisely about the islands on the East side of Jutland? If so, then his “most famous” isle of Burcana (aka Fabaria) could not be the island of Borkum.
But, you say, “Borkum” fits – it kind of sounds like Burcana.
It does.
Point 2: But so does Arkona.
If in the past Arkona were the name of the entire island of Ruegen – and not just the name of the Cape on Ruegen.
Which raises a question. What does “from the resemblance borne by a fruit which grows there spontaneously” mean? Does it mean that the island looks like a fruit? Or does it mean simply that the island is known by the “fruit” that is grown there? It would be strange if an island were both a hotspot for “fruit” production and also were to look like that fruit – but hey stranger things have happened.
And what is that “fruit”? That “fruit” is supposedly the bean but this is not certain.
Did beans grow on Borkum? Did they on Ruegen? Not recently but 2,000 years ago!
And if we go with the second version of this interpretation – the visual one – what looks more like the “fruit” after which Burcana was also named Fabaria – Borkum or Arkona? Well, is this a reference to a bean or to something else?
This is how they look – today (!); the challenger:
the current champion:
and the real thing (if that is the thing!):
On the “looks” Borkum probably takes the prize but let’s not be so shallow…
In fact, it is also here – on the Baltic – that we would find the island Austeravia/Actania aka Glæsaria – so named for its amber. That Austeravia should be on the Baltic can be argued either based on its Germanic etymology – pointing towards the “East” – or its Slavic one – pointing towards “ostrow”, i.e., “island” (supposedly only a “river” island but why that limitation?). Furthermore, the same follows from the mention of amber. (Although – as a matter of fact – amber may be found on the North Sea (and indeed in Sweden, the Netherlands and England), its primary “washing” grounds in antiquity were thought to be in the Baltic).
Pliny continues by noting in the next chapter: “The whole of the shores of this sea as far as the Scaldis, a river of Germany, is inhabited by nations, the dimensions of whose respective territories it is quite impossible to state, so immensely do the authors differ who have touched upon this subject.” Thus, it seems impossible to use what follows to help us gauge the veracity of our musings.
PS we refuse to so much as even touch Pliny’s “Cylipenus”. And, for more on Pliny and the Veneti see here.
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